System and method for cryogenic optoelectronic data link

Abstract

A cryogenic optoelectronic data link, comprising a sending module operating at a cryogenic temperature less than 100 K. An ultrasensitive electro-optic modulator, sensitive to input voltages of less than 10 mV, may include at least one optically active layer of graphene, which may be part of a microscale resonator, which in turn may be integrated with an optical waveguide or an optical fiber. The optoelectronic data link enables optical output of weak electrical signals from superconducting or other cryogenic electronic devices in either digital or analog form. The modulator may be integrated on the same chip as the cryogenic electrical devices. A plurality of cryogenic electrical devices may generate a plurality of electrical signals, each coupled to its own modulator. The plurality of modulators may be resonant at different frequencies, and coupled to a common optical output line to transmit a combined wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical signal.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a non-provisional of, and claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 256,991, filed Nov. 18, 2015, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]There are several low-power cryogenic electronic technologies that require broadband communication of analog or digital data to conventional electronic systems at room temperature. These include ultrafast superconducting circuits for data conversion, radio communications, and computing, as well as superconducting circuits for quantum computing and sensitive imaging arrays across the electromagnetic spectrum. A key problem with these systems is that the characteristic voltage output of these low-power systems is 1 mV or even less, while room-temperature semiconductor electronic devices have a typical voltage level of order 1 V or more. In some cases, one can use a high-gain transistor ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a system that combines a modulator and a superconducting circuit on the same chip. By integrating the modulator with the superconducting circuit, the system can transmit multiple optical signals simultaneously on a single optical fiber. This is done by using a wavelength-dispersive multiplexing technique, which splits the optical signal into different colors and frequencies. The system includes a demodulator circuit that uses a photoconductive device or a more conventional material to recover the microwave-frequency communication signals. The technical effects of this system include simplifying cryogenic packaging and system integration, as well as enabling high-speed and low-power optical communication.

Problems solved by technology

These devices are low in power, and can output fast multi-GHz signals of order 1 mV in amplitude.

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